Envelope-moistemer



(No Model.)

J. A. MARTENS.

ENVELOPE MOISTENER No. 318,921. Patented May 26, 1885.

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I/OHW UNTTED 'dTnTns PATENT @TTTTJi-t.

JOHN A. MABTENS, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ENVELOPE-MOlSTENER;

$PECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 318,921, dated May 26, 1885.

App'aication filed September 30,1884.

To all whom it iii/coy concern;

Be it known that I, JOHN A. MARTENs, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee, and in the State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelope- Moisteners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to devices for moisten ing the gummed flaps of envelopes preparatory to scaling them; and it consists in certain peculiarities of construction, all as will be more fully set forth hereinafter.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device with the operating lid open; and Fig. 2 is a central vertical transverse section of the same, showing the lid closed.

A is the base or receptacle for the water-box B, and this base is preferably countersunk, as indicated in the sectional view, Fig. 2, the better to retain the box B, and this base is ordinarily made of sufficient thickness to have considerable weight, and so overcome any tendency to upsetting the device in operation. Of course the base A might be screwed or otherwise secnrecl to, or form part of, an office desk or table, but it is very convenient to have it independent and movable, as thus it forms a convenient paper-weight. It may be ornamented with moldings, as shown, or in any manner desired.

The box B is of rectangular oblong form, with tight bottom, sides, and ends, and a hinged top, B, of somewhat greater width than the width of the box. The hinges b b are placed half on the inside of the cover and half on the outside of the back of the box, as shown by the full and dotted lines, respectively, in Fig. 1.

G is a pin or post projecting inward from the rear upper end of one of the box-ends, and c is a coiled spring on said pin, whose downward end 0'' is secured, preferably, to the inner sur face of the back of the box: and whose up wardextending and free end 0 bears against the un der surface of the box-lid B, and serves to keep it open, except when closed against the force of said spring.

D is a division-plate extending the entire height of the box from one front corner to the center of the boxback, and thence onto the other front corner, as shown, and D is another plate, of the same height and same gen- (No model.)

eral shape, but less in length, and joined to the plate D, as shown, so as to leave a space i or well, (2, between the two plates, which is filled by a pad or packing, E, of absorbent material. After experimenting with cloth, sponge, 810., I have found that the best material for the purpose is a thick single piece of felt placed on its edge and filling the entire space or well d, as shown. Both plates D and D are provided with holes or notches d d d. on their bottom lines, to admit the water or other liquid from the water-box to the felt packing, from whence, by capillary attraction, it ascends to the top edge of said packing.

One end of the box has a little hole or notch, a, cut therein, and the lid B has a pin, a, preferably with a loop, eye, or ring in its outer end, which fits into the notch, and a hook, a pivoted to the outside of the box-end, fits over the pin or into the eye, when the boxcover is down, to keep it closed when not in use.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing description of its construction. salt has preferably been added, to keep it pure and sweet, although, of course, water alone will answer) is poured into the water'box B, and the felt or other absorbent packing, previously soaked in water, is fitted into the space d. Then the envelopes which have received their inclosures are taken and the gummed sides of the flaps are laid upon the correspondingly-shaped edge of the felt, and the lid B is brought down on top of the flap, thoroughly and instantly nioistenin g the gummed surface, and then, on releasing the said lid from pressure, the spring 0 c forces it instantly back ready for another envelope, while that just moistened is ready for sealing, without the disagreeable necessity of touching its gummed surface to the lips and tongue, as in common practice.

Aside from my device being cleanly and agreeable in use, it saves a great deal of time and is of especial value whenever a large number of envelopes are to be sealed, as its action is almost automatic, and the return movement of the lid entirely so, the action of the spring being aided by the peculiar arrangement of the hinges and by the rearward projectionjof the said cover.

Water (to which a suitable Having thus described myinvention,whatI and a spring adapted to force the lid back claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters and keep it open when pressure is removed Patent, isfrom the same, substantially as set forth. 15

1. An envelope-moistener consisting of a In testimony that I claim the foregoing I 5 Water-box, in combination with an absorbent have hereunto set my hand, at Milwaukee, in pad extending the height of the box, and a 1 the county of Milwaukee and State of Wishinged lid or cover adapted to be pressed consin, in the presence of two witnesses. thereon, substantially as set forth.

2. An envelope-moistener consisting of a JOHN MARTENS r0 water-box, in combination with an absorbent Witnesses:

pad extending the height of the box, a hinged H. G. :UNDERWOOD, lid or cover adapted to be pressed thereon, H. J. FORSYTHE. 

